Letters To The Editor

CITIZENSHIP

Make up your own mind, then vote

The most important thing you can do as an American citizen is to vote.

Very few actions can do as much to ensure the continuation of freedom and liberty. Even today, few people have as much self-determination as Americans. Yet, no more than half of Americans make the effort to participate.

We’ve all heard it before: My vote doesn’t count. What difference does it make? And so on. However, we do make a difference because, as long as people care, politicians will have to listen.

I don’t care who you want in office. The participation is what really matters. My wife and I have already voted by absentee ballot. There have been people who, knowing they were dying, have used this method to cast their vote before they passed away. It’s sad that most don’t share their love of freedom - perhaps because it is so hard to see what we have.

My wife and I voted for President Bill Clinton, as we share his vision for the future. If you share the same vision, run to the polls and help him win. If you disagree with us, then run to the polls and cancel out our votes.

Far fewer than 10 percent of the world’s people get the opportunity that we have tomorrow. Take it seriously. Don’t let someone else tell you what is important. Don’t let someone’s endorsement sway you. Don’t listen to rhetoric. Listen to yourself, your heart and your conscience, and cast your vote. Russ Carver Spokane

Vote or hold your piece

Everyone has opinions, especially where politics are concerned, but unless one has the courage of convictions to achieve the fulfillment of those convictions, he or she is merely speaking for effect.

We daily hear or read people emphatically stating their convictions. Yet, on Election Day we see voter turnouts of anywhere from 35 to 45 percent, seldom higher. But after Election Day, we hear and read of so many people again voicing their discontent with the outcome of those elections.

The famous “Republican uprising” in 1994 when so many incumbents were ousted and the “Contract with America” was voted in is an excellent example of what The hard-core voter can accomplish by voting. It was no mandate, as reported, as less than 39 percent of eligible voters chose to exercise their right to vote.

The result was that slightly over 50 percent of that 39 percent who voted - or less than 20 percent of those eligible voters - chose the heads of government at national, state, county and local levels to govern the other 80 percent of us.

So it matters little which candidates you like if you don’t have the courage of your convictions and go to a voting place on Election Day.

Nov. 5 is when you can put your money where your mouth is. Don’t gripe, vote - or keep quiet. Andy Kelly Spokane

Inform yourself and then vote

As the media barrage surrounding the elections intensifies and gets muddier, I want to remind voters that there is a lot more at stake this year than the presidential contest.

All across Washington, important races are being run for state Senate, House and county commission positions. It is these local leaders who really have the power to immediately change and improve our quality of life. Unfortunately, it is also these candidates we hear little about. Limited campaign budgets shut out the average county commission candidate from getting their message on radio and/or television. Regrettably, only 30 percent of the population reads the newspaper on a regular basis.

Take 30 minutes to educate yourself about your choices. Read the newspaper’s voter’s guide, get candidates’ literature, attend a forum or debate.

I fear that when 5 p.m. rolls around on Tuesday, televised results from the East Coast will be so lopsided that many Washington voters will feel inclined to stay home. Fight the temptation. Every vote does count, especially in small, rural counties were the winning difference in a commissioner race may be 50 to 500 votes.

When you don’t vote, you give up your right to complain about how bad government is. Educate yourself, go to the polls and vote the whole ballot. Jean E. Johnson Spokane

LAW AND JUSTICE

No justice, in system or story placement

I want to be sure that everybody who missed the small, back page article you published about the Spirit Lake man who murdered his girlfriend’s toddler knows what’s going on (“Spirit Lake man admits beating girlfriend’s toddler,” Oct. 31).

You reported that Ralph James Reyes, 21, took his girlfriend’s 20-month-old son and fractured his ribs, tore his liver, bruised his pancreas, bowel, heart and lungs, shook him, poked him, slapped him and otherwise beat him to death. The child also had head injuries and internal bleeding.

Listen, people: This man has been charged with felony injury, not murder! Why? Why not first-degree murder?

I was just looking at old photos of my own little boys last night, of when they were toddlers. So small, so trusting, so sweet. Are they less human because they’re small? If that man had beaten a grown man to death, he’d be charged with murder. But a little boy doesn’t really count, I guess.

And Spokesman-Review, shame on you for not putting this poor little boy’s story on the front page. Teresa Keene Spokane

Another case of subverting parents

So, how about the lady who took a 13-year-old girl out of state so she could get an abortion (“State puts woman on trial for helping teen get abortion,” Oct. 28)?

The girl was not her daughter. Her son had gotten the girl pregnant. How old was the son?

The girl is little more than a child. What if there had been complications? Many things could have gone wrong. The prosecutor said he would not seek a jail sentence, only try to send a message. If it had been my child, the prosecutor would not have had to send any message. I would have given her a message she would not soon forget. She had no right to decide this.

This is no pro-life issue. This is a child, and only her parents should decide for her. Lila Finley Spokane

Barstad sentence too harsh

It seems that James Barstad is a victim of political hype and election year politics. He is receiving a harsher sentence in a community that gave a lighter sentence to men who killed the children of their girlfriends - with intent to harm helpless children.

Barstad did not set out to kill anyone. Although drunk driving is a felony, and it did end tragically, the sentence still seems disproportionate, considering there was no intent to harm. Also, he did say he would trade his life for those of the two girls. I believe he meant it. That shows remorse. He doesn’t deserve such harsh treatment.

The presence of Mother’s Against Drunk Driving, and this being an election year, had everything to do with his sentence, not a concern for justice. Debbi Sullivan Spokane

LAW ENFORCEMENT

It’s a good thing we have the FBI

There has been criticism of the FBI in the paper recently. Some individuals in the organization may have acted improperly, but let us please remember how much we depend on the FBI to protect us.

I recently attended a conference at Gonzaga, hosted by the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment. I knew in a general way about militias and freemen, but I had no idea of how widespread and dangerous these movements are. Their vicious, anti-Semitic, racist doctrine impels them to try to involve the whole country in an internal war. They are into recruiting criminals in prisons to join their movement when they are released. Although the various groups seem to operate independently, they are united by their ugly doctrine. The only defense we have against these bombers, robbers and murderers is the FBI, since they cross state lines frequently to avoid being caught by local police.

It is a shame that our government should have to spend so much money to defend us against armed groups in our own country, but if the FBI doesn’t do it, who will? Dorothy E. Carter Spokane

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

Let non-veterans pay their dues

Floyd Damman of Colbert wrote that veterans should lead and save our country by giving up or limiting their entitlements as an example for others to follow (Letters, Oct. 24).

Our veterans were given those entitlements from a grateful country on behalf of their service and suffering, which in no way can be paid in full by anyone. If anyone is going to lead the way in sacrificing to save the country, let it be the draft dodgers who got college deferments so they wouldn’t have to serve in the military during the Vietnam War. They have a good education, good job and the money. Maybe it’s time they paid something back. The veterans paid in full. Ed Deluz, member, Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 45 Spokane

Plenty of others should sacrifice

It is obvious Floyd Damman has never served in the military (“Veterans should lead way sacrificing,” Letters, Oct. 24).

I am a retired veteran, having served during the latter part of World War II, the Korean conflict and the Vietnam War. Believe me, I and all other veterans who served have earned our entitlements, plus some.

What have welfare recipients done for their country, other than nothing? How about our ex-presidents, senators and congressmen giving up some of their retirement? Also, stop the liberals’ wild and foolish spending of tax dollars. Rich Robinson Spokane

We’re letting our young down

For those inspired to write about politics, could you write and tell us why society won’t accept or condone the spanking of children when they’re growing up and learning the difference between right and wrong?

If mom or dad picks a switch, they could go to jail or have their children taken away. Yet, this same society will condone and accept the death penalty for the execution of children, or a sentence of life without parole for a child murderer who is 12 to 15 years old and being treated as an adult.

Granted, their crimes are horrible. But could it be that those who make up this great country are committing a greater crime by sparing the rod and spoiling the child? Dolores Grim Spokane

Needs worth meeting at home, too

I sat at my desk Sunday morning (Oct. 20) and cried as I read “Into the heart of darkness.”

There are so many things we take for granted. It made me pray that there are not such ugly situations in Spokane. But I know there are needs out there in our neighborhoods as well.

My heart was lifted to read the Oct. 22 follow-up article, which clearly showed the generosity and compassion of Spokane-area residents. How encouraging to see people step up and give time and money - even money they don’t have - to a legitimate cause. It took a very enlightening and moving piece of writing to spark such an outpouring.

In this situation, the article was necessary since Romania is an ocean away. But I hope this situation served to remind people there are legitimate needs all around them, needs that might not get covered in the newspaper.

It is apparent that the people of Spokane care. It would be even more wonderful if we would care about the overlooked needs as well as the obvious ones.

If everyone would look for a problem and put some effort, either with material goods or time, into solving that problem, there is no limit to how much the quality of Spokane could improve. Kelly Charbonneau Pullman

BUSINESS AND LABOR

Anti-freeze makers let us, pets down

I write this letter as part of our family dies. Why must companies delay putting a bitter flavor in their antifreeze? Why must they, for the sake of a few pennies, bring awful sadness to a family?

Our dog, Mandy, is dying and as we pay a veterinarian for that 5 percent chance of survival, we agonize over why? If tuna companies can now protect dolphins, why can’t anti-freeze companies care about our pets - much less a small child?

The veterinarian and staff say they see this a lot, especially this time of year. If not caught within the first 12 hours, anti-freeze totally destroys the kidneys and there is no medication, no procedure that can bring them back. Why does this have to happen? , I will write letters to anti-freeze companies. I will complain to any store selling anti-freeze.

Mandy was special and this should have never happened. Kyle Olson Liberty Lake

‘Prevailing wage’ system no bargain

Roger Johanson’s Oct. 22 smoke-and-mirrors defense of the Davis-Bacon Act “prevailing” wage system tries to divert our attention to misclassified labor reports.

Associated Builders and Contractors does not condone false labor reporting. Merit-shop and union contractors are appropriately fined for doing this.

Next, Johanson asks, “are wages artificially high?” Reader’s Digest reported electricians in Philadelphia who are paid $15.97/hour on private jobs, but when the taxpayers are paying the bill on public works, they received $37.97/hour. That’s $78,977 a year! Wouldn’t you think the prevailing wage for electricians in Philadelphia is closer to $15.97/hour?

When shopping for our families, don’t we seek the best buy for our money? I shop the discount stores alongside my rank-and-file friends and neighbors. When the government shops for labor on public projects this is not the case. We pay “prevailing” wages.

As for complaints about the lack of a skilled work force, merit shops don’t just complain, we train new apprentices at every opportunity. I have frequently witnessed union leaders using every means available to prevent merit shops from training in an attempt to bolster flagging union membership and market share.

Johanson and I do agree on one thing: we want everyone to vote on Tuesday. Steve Foster Spokane